Early voting began last Thursday in Illinois giving voters 40 days prior to Election Day to cast their ballot, in most jurisdictions. Beginning last Thursday, most Illinoisans can vote at their local election authority’s office which in most cases, that’s the county clerk, but for about a quarter of the state’s population it’s a city or county election commission. Voters in Wayne County and Edwards County can vote at the courthouse during office hours while voting generally runs through November 4th.
Most early voting locations also allow individuals to register to vote in Illinois. You can also register online or by mail. To register in person, you must visit your county clerks office. Most counties also offer alternate locations for voter registration, including secretary of state facilities, libraries and other government buildings.
To register online, visit the state’s online voter application tool at ova.elections.il.gov. Online registration closes October 20th
Those registering in person after October 9th must also vote at the same time as part of the state’s “grace period” process.
Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day, November 5th. Voters in line by 7 p.m. are guaranteed the chance to vote on Election Day if they are in line to vote when the polls close.
Illinois allows same-day registration and voting on Election Day at the prospective voter’s assigned election location. But to do so, voters must provide two forms of identification, one of which must have a current address – the same requirements as regular registration.
Illinoisans preferring to vote by mail have been able to request a mail ballot since last month. But the first day local election authorities can send those out was also last Thursday. Vote-by-mail ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received by the local election authority on or before November 19th to be accepted.
Election authorities also accept mail ballots that are returned in person, and many jurisdictions offer drop boxes where ballots can be submitted.
Those who request a mail ballot but would prefer to vote in person can do so, as long as they surrender the mail ballot to the election authority when they vote in person or sign an affidavit saying they have not received or have lost the ballot.
The last day to request a vote-by-mail ballot is October 31st. Anyone wishing to vote after that day will have to do so in person.
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